First Snow Of The Winter.

About a week and a half ago I was awakened by the scrunch of snowplows on our street.

A peek out my bedroom window confirmed the forecast for snow. I grabbed my camera and headed out for my morning walk.

My route takes me past the now defunct Barnes Foundation.

At the half- way point I go through Merion Botanical Park, beautiful in any season, and the site of many of my oils and water colors.

Very still on this chill gray morning.

 Just as I do when painting, the photographer in me looks for the natural rhythms that exist in nature.

 And color, subtle at this time of year.

It's also about the interaction of shapes, and in particular on a day with such extremes of contrast; the relationship and distribution of light, dark, and middle values.

Here's a vertical version of the scene above, drawn in my sketchbook about a month ago. 
Spring is just around the corner.

The latest from my sketchbook.

With the new year I have resumed teaching at Pat Witt's Barn Studio, in South Jersey.

About half way down Route 55 last Thursday, my van's engine overheated. I sat for about three hours, waiting for the AAA guy to show up. I did this sketch of him on the return trip to Philly.

Here are more drawings from my sketchbook, done around the holidays, and since returning from Florida.

    You know what they say about "Idle hands"...

Celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Back in the early 1960s I was a young and very naive art student in Philadelphia.

At the same time this amazingly brave man was marching, preaching, and dedicating his life to fighting racism and the protection of equal rights for everyone in America. Dr. King's legacy is a reminder that we really should always choose love, because hate is too much of a burden.

This weekend Nancy and I sang in the "Unity Choir," made up of members of two local Jewish Temples, and the Mt. Zion Black Baptist Church. We were rockin', clappin', cryin', and huggin',
and it was a wonderful way to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I did this drawing 2 years ago at Mt. Zion.     

The Holidays were fun while they lasted.

I hope every one of you had a fun holiday and New Years celebration.

My little family decided to spend Christmas in Florida. Here's my view from the backseat of Will navigating while his friend Stacey drove.

Upon our arrival we indulged in good food...and Ms. Diver.
 

Pierce and his partner-in-love, Maggi, perform a lot in Florida. Here practicing on their deck.

So they decided they needed a "home base" in the south.

On our morning walks Mason and I encountered the high rises...

 And the funky low rises. 'Twas the season, even in sunny Florida.

And I now know where Santa spends his vacation after delivering his gifts to good little girls and boys.

As do lots of those "one per centers" and rich retirees.

But of course for children, Christmas is a magical time. Diver trimming the Mango tree.

Escaping into one of the many books left by Santa.

And proudly showing her drawing of herself twirling in a hula-hoop, to her Silver Pop-Pop.
  

Must be in the genes.